Sole Conditioning Device

ABSTRACT

A envelope to be worn as a sock, sock liner, innersole, each of which may be worn inside a sneaker, shoe or otherwise as footwear sole wherein the envelope confines a plurality of naturally occurring elements used a sensory activators when supporting a person standing on the envelope.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/372,186 filed Aug. 8, 2016 which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to foot wear and apparel, more particularly tosock, liners, inner-soles to be worn by individuals in their home or foroutside the home while wearing a sneaker or shoe, or shoes made withsuch inner soles to alleviate foot, back, or knee related problems andto rejuvenate one's health. In greater particularity the presentinvention relates to sock liners, inner soles, and socks wherein naturalmaterials are contained in the product to support the foot and user. Ineven greater particularity, the present invention relates to the use ofrocks, seeds, sand, grains, beans, wood, spices, leaves and othernatural ingredients as a base upon which a wearer stands when utilizingthe product.

BACKGROUND

Modern technology has utilized cushioning methods to support the foot.Some patented technologies utilize stimulating pads to engage the soleof the foot. Some embed objects into soles of sandals to providepressure point relief, some provide ergonomically designed cushions. Theefficacy of these products has not produced satisfactory results for theinventor. Thus, a need exists for a sole engaging structure utilizingnatural components to be worn around the house and for casual walksoutdoors to rejuvenate the health and the feet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form aportion of this disclosure, it may be seen that:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a shoe with my foot conditioningenvelope therein;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the show shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3H depict stitching patterns to hold the fill materialin place;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4d depict fill materials such as sand, nuts and seeds,and pebbles;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 6 is another embodiment where in the envelope is attached to asock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, byproviding naturally occurring products as sensory activators in anenclosed envelope forming a portion of a sock, an insole, a sock liner,or similar product. By naturally occurring products, I am referring toall types of elements including wood of various types, small pieces ofwood in various shapes, grains, minerals, rocks, vegetable seeds, fruitseeds, berries, herbs, spices, sand. Included in the list but notlimiting the products that may be used, are mung beans, pebbles,lentils, brown rice; lavender buds, ginger shavings, almonds peach pits,hazelnuts, acorns, macadamia nuts, coal, ashes, flower petals (rose),corn, sand and common dirt.

Referring to FIGS. 1 & 2, the envelope enclosing the activators may beused with virtually any shoe, however I have illustrated a slipper 10 ofthe type to be worn around the house. The product is not intended norrecommended for extended wear outside the home, but is intended for wearimmediately after taking off one's usual footwear and for wear by theuser for a duration determined by the user to stimulate the foot, legsand spinal alignment. The slipper 10 shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 is of aspecialized design to accommodate the insertion of an insole inaccordance with this disclosure. Slipper 10 includes and upper 11 and asole 12 which may be made from any suitable material such as canvas orleather. A peripheral band 13 of material connects the sole 12 andupper. The material is elastic or stretchable in one direction but notthe other, in this case stretchable vertically but not horizontally suchthat band 13 allows the upper 11 to move vertically relative to the solewhen an users foot is inserted into slipper 10. The same or similarmaterial makes up the spine 14 at the back of the heel of the slipper,but may be oriented to allow horizontal stretch. As noted, any shoe,sock or sandal may be utilized with the envelope, however, footwearhaving the elastic features of the shoe shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 may makeusing the envelope more comfortable as will be understood from aconsideration of the envelope itself as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and theactivators as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3A to 3H it will be noted that the product has thebasic form of the sole of a foot and comprises at least one layer ofcloth 22 made from a synthetic or natural material such as cotton orsilk. The layer may be folded and formed as an envelope 21 or may besewn to a second layer to create an envelope into which the naturallyoccurring activators listed above can be confined. In either form ofconstruction the peripheral margin of the envelope is closed bystitching 23. The activators, shown in FIG. 4, are encased within theenvelope, thus the envelope material needs to be capable of retainingthe activator. In other words, a loose weave fabric may be suitable foran activator made of particles having a large physical volume, however,such a weave would not be suitable if the activator is sand. Further,the specific stitching 24 running across the sole or longitudinally ofthe sole will depend on the nature of the naturally occurring activatorswithin the envelope 21 and may include different types of patterns anddesigns. By way of example and not limitation, FIG. 3A shows a diagonalstitch pattern for stitching 24 which may be suitable for largeractivator materials and which would impart a diagonal activation to thebottom of the foot. FIG. 3B illustrates a transverse wave stitch patternfor stitching 24 which may be better suited for smaller diameteractivators and provides a sinusoidal activation pattern transversely ofthe foot. FIG. 3C illustrates a complex stitch pattern for stitching 24which may serve to confine activators of different size, for examplelarge activators may be confined in the arch area where stitching 24 islinear and transverse, while smaller size activators may be captured inthe crosshatch stitch pattern at the ball of the foot to insure theactivators do not migrate. In FIG. 3D, diagonal linear stitching mayaccommodate medium sized activator particles. Referring to FIG. 3E, anirregular stitching pattern for stitching 24 prevents migration of theactivators and provides a complex stimulation pattern to the foot akinto walking on an uneven surface. FIG. 3F depicts a stitching pattern forstitching 24 that accommodates the arch of the foot and FIGS. 3G and 3Hillustrate linear stitching 24 in either a longitudinal direction ortransverse direction which provides anti-migration properties anddifferent sensory stimulation, with the longitudinal stitching providinglateral instability sensation and the transverse stitching providingstimulation progressively along the sole of the foot. FIG. 5 illustratesthe compartmentalization required in the envelope to provide stabilityto the activator material and to prevent the material from migrating toone area of the envelope.

Referring to FIG. 4A to 4D, various activators from the above listingare confined within the envelope. In FIG. 4A, the activator material maybe common dirt, sand, ground spices, plant leaves or any other granularor powder like substance. In FIG. 4B, the activator material may bevegetable seeds, fruit seeds, mung beans, almonds peach pits, hazelnuts,acorns, or macadamia nuts. In FIG. 4C, the activator material may begrains, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, lentils, brown rice;lavender buds. In FIG. 4 D, the activator material may be rocks,pebbles, minerals, and assorted rock like materials. The envelopematerial itself should be cotton, silk, polymer based manmade fibers, orthe like with a weave commensurate with the activator, such that theactivator is not able to readily migrate from the envelope and of athickness such that the envelope material does not provide excessivepadding, thereby diminishing the effect of the activators as the userstands or walks on the envelope. If additional padding is required foran individual, then it may be added.

It will be understood that an envelope 30 having the same features asenvelope 21 may be sewn to the inside or outside of a sock 60 as shownin FIG. 6, for wear in a sneaker or shoe, may be incorporated intofootwear as an inner sole for sneakers, shoes, boots, or sandals, or maybe used as a mat for passive standing apart from being worn whilewalking around the home or for brief walks outside, such as taking thedog for a walk. As noted the product is intended to provide short termstimulation to the foot due to the weight of the body being supported onthe envelope and the selected activation material, thus the product isnot intended nor recommended for extended wear outside the home, but isintended for wear immediately after taking off one's usual footwear andfor wear by the user for a duration determined by the user to stimulatethe foot, legs and spinal alignment. However, depending on the activatormaterial chosen, for example sand, leaves, or spices, the product may besuitable for wear over an extended period of time.

As may be noted, the nature of the activator material will determine thethickness of the product and the intensity of the stimulation. For somematerials, the product may be simply used by loosening the laces orsandal straps of selected footwear to accommodate the thickness.Slippers may require the flexible material as set forth herein above.Accordingly, it is contemplated that the product can be used alone or incombination with traditional and non-traditional footwear.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been describedin relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have beenput forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additionalembodiments and that certain of the details described herein can bevaried considerably without departing from the basic principles of theinvention.

What we claim is:
 1. An envelope to be placed in contact with the soleof the foot to provide sensory activation, said envelope including oneor more layers of confinement material for at least partially definingsaid envelope and retaining therein a number of activator elementsselected from the group including wood of various types, small pieces ofwood in various shapes, grains, minerals, rocks, vegetable seeds, fruitseeds, berries, herbs, spices, plant leaves, sand, mung beans, pebbles,lentils, brown rice; lavender buds, ginger shavings, almonds, peachpits, hazelnuts, acorns, macadamia nuts, coal, ashes, grains, corn,flower petals, and common dirt.
 2. An envelope as described in claim 1,wherein said envelope is divided into a plurality of internal chambersfor said activation material.
 3. An envelope as described in claim 2wherein said internal chambers extend diagonally across said envelope.4. An envelope as described in claim 2 in which the internal chambersare formed by an irregular stitching pattern.
 5. An envelope asdescribed in claim 2 in which the internal chambers are formed by linearstitch rows.
 6. An envelope as described in claim 2 placed within ashoe, wherein said shoe includes and upper and a sole and a strip offlexible material there between to allow said upper to move verticallyrelative to said sole to accommodate said envelope and a user's footwithin said shoe.
 7. An envelope as described in claim 2 formed as asole of a sock.